Page images
PDF
EPUB

ly it must lie in a Common-wealth; that Government only being capable to make them, through the Lord's Bleffing, the Metropolis and Bank of their Trade for all Christendom; whereunto God and Nature hath fitted them above others.

And as to a Government in the Church, the want whereof hath been no fmall Caufe of these Nations Distractions, it is most manifeft, that if it be Monarchical in the State, the Church muft follow, and Prelacy muft be brought in; which thefe Nations, I know, cannot bear, and against which they have fo folemnly fworn.

And indeed moderate, not rigid Presbyterian Government, with a fufficient Liberty for Confciences truly Tender, appears at prefent to be the most indifferent and acceptable way to the Churches Settlement,

The main thing that feems to lie in the way, is the Intereft of the Lords, even of thofe Lords who have fhew'd themfelves noble indeed, by joyning with the People, and in defence of thofe juft Rights, have adventured their deareft Blood and large Eftates. To that I fhall only fay, that though the State of thefe Nations be fuch, as cannot bear their fitting in a diftin&t House; yet,

cer:

certainly, the Wisdom of Parliament will find out fuch Hereditary Marks of Honour for them as may make them more noble in after Ages.

Gentlemen,

Upon the whole Matter, the best result that I can make at prefent for the Peace of thefe Nations, will be, in my Opinion, that you forthwith go to fit together in Parliament, in Order,

I. To the fettling the Conduct of the Armies of the Three Nations in that manner, as they may be ferviceable to the Peace and Safety of them, and not to its own, and the Nations Ruin, by Faction and Divifion.

II. To the providing fufficient Maintenance for them; that is, for the Forces by Land, and for the Navy by Sea, and all the Arrears of both, and other Contingencies of the Government..

III. To the appointing a Council of State with Authority to fettle the Civil Government and Judicatories in Scotland and Ireland, and to take Care for the iffuing of Warrants for the Summoning a Parliament of these three Nations united, to meet at Weftminfter the 20th Day of April next,

with

with fuch Qualifications as may fecure the Publick Cause we are all engag'd in, and according to fuch Diftributions as were used in the Year 1654. Which Parliament fo called, may meet and act in freedom, for the more full establishing of this Commonwealth, without a King, fingle Perfon, or House of Lords.

IV. To a Legal Diffolution of this Parliament, to make way for the Succeffion of Parliaments.

And in Order to thefe Good Ends, the Guards will not only admit you, but faithfully both my felf, and every the Officers under my Command; and I believe the Officers and Soldiers of the Three Nations will fpend their Blood for you and fucceffive Parliaments.

If your Conjunction be directed to this End, you may part honourably, having made a fair Step to the Settlement of thefe Nations, by making a Way for fucceffive Parlia

ments.

But I must needs fay, that if any different Counsel should be taken (which I have no Reason to fear) these Nations will presently be thrown back into Force and Violence, and

all

all Hopes of this much defired Establishment buried in Disorder; which the Lord in his Great Mercy I hope will prevent. And fo God fpeed you well together, and unite your Hearts for the Prefervation of Peace and Settlement of thefe Nations, to His Glory, and Yours, and all our Comforts.

A Speech of King CHARLES II. to his Parliament in 1660, wherein he shews his Good Difpofition for an Act of Indempnity.

I

My Lords and Gentlemen,

will not entertain you with a long Dif courfe; the Sum of all I have to fay to you being but to give you Thanks, very Hearty Thanks; and I affure you I find it a very difficult Work to fatisfie my self in my own Expreffions of thofe Thanks, Perfunctory Thanks, Ordinary Thanks for Ordinary Civilities are easily given; but when the Heart is as full as mine is, it is a Labour to thank you. You have taken great Pains to oblige me, and therefore it cannot be easie for me to express the Sense I have of it.

I will enlarge no further to you upon this Occafion, than to tell you, That when God brought me hither, I brought with me an Extraordinary Affection and Efteem for Parliaments. I need not tell you how much it is improved by your Carriage towards nfe. You have out-done all the good and obliging Acts of your Predeceffors towards the Crown and therefore you cannot but believe my Heart is exceedingly enlarged with the Acknowledgment.

Many former Parliaments have had particular Denominations from what they have done; they have been ftiled, Learned and Unlearned, and fometimes have had worfe Epithites; I pray let us all Refolve that this be for ever called, The Healing and the Bleffed Parliament.

As I thank you, though not enough, for what you have done, fo I have not the leaft doubt by the Bleffing of God, but when I fhall call the next Parliament, which I fhall do as foon as reasonably you can expect or defire, I fhall receive your Thanks for what I have done fince I parted with you: For I deal truly with you, I fhall not more propose any one Rule to my felf, in my Actions, and my Counfels, than this, What is a Parliament like to think of this Action, or this Council? And it fhall be Want of Underftanding in me, if it will not bear that Teft.

I fhall

« PreviousContinue »